The Bromance Book Club (Bromance Book Club, #1)

by Lyssa Kay Adams

The man tugged on his suspenders. “Whatcha knockin’ down?” “Patriarchal power structures.” He blinked.

“Good. First rule of book club?” They finished in unison. “You don’t talk about book club.”

We expect women to do all the emotional labor in a relationship and then act confused when they give up on us.”

“Romance novels are primarily written by women for women, and they’re entirely about how they want to be treated and what they want out of life and in a relationship. We read them to be more comfortable expressing ourselves and to look at things from their perspective.”

“Modern romance novelists use the patriarchal society of old British aristocracy to explore the gender-based limitations placed on women today in both the professional and personal spheres. That shit is feminist as fuck.”

The backlash against the PSL is a perfect example of how toxic masculinity permeates even the most mundane things in life. If masses of women like something, our society automatically begins to mock them. Just like romance novels. If women like them, they must be a joke, right?”

“That’s why fiction resonates with people. It speaks to universal truths.”

“There are entire Pinterest boards devoted just to washi tape.” “What kind of boards?” Del asked. “Pinterest.” “What the hell is Pinterest?” Gavin said. “I feel like I’m with a table of baby boomers.” Mack sighed. He leaned and turned around the screen of his phone. “Romance novels might be the manuals, but Pinterest is where they post the pictures.”

“That’s really all it is, Gavin,” Malcolm said. “Your wife has a void. A hole. Find it and fill it.” Malcolm’s words were greeted with an uncomfortable silence, like the kind when a middle school teacher accidentally says the word erect in front of twenty twelve-year-old boys. Everyone wants to laugh, but no one is brave enough to do it first. Mack finally came through. “Gavin hasn’t filled Thea’s hole in a while.” “Someday I’m going to hurt you when no one is looking.”

“Well, that left her feeling vulnerable and even a little pissed off when he left.” Gavin covered his ears. “Spoilers! I haven’t read any further than that.”